Tank



v Oct. 24, 1933. H C, BOARDMAN 1,931,525

VTANK Filled Dec. 16, 1931 Patented Act. 24,V 1933 UNITEDV STATES NPATENT OFFICE Chicago Bridge and Ill., a corporation oi' Iron Company,Chicago,

Illinois Application December 16, 1931 Serial N0. 581,493

Claims.

This application relates to improvements in tanks and, more especially,storage tanks adapted for containing liquids.

One of the features of my invention is the 5 provision of a floatingroof with improved means for sealing the space between the edge of' theroof and the wall of the tank.

Other features and advantages of my invention will appear more fully asI proceed with my specification.

In those forms of devices embodying the'features of my invention shownin the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation partlyin vertical section; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing themethod of making the seal; and Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2showing a modified form.

As shown in the drawing, is a cylindrical tan-k for the storage ofliquid 11.

Floating on the liquid is a circular deck or pan 12 having an upstandingoutwardly flared rim 13, the upper edge of which is preferably curvedinwardly slightly, as indicated by 13a.

The deck 12 and the rim 13 are preferably made of sheet metal. The rim13 is high enough and thin enough so that it is flexible and distortableand its upper edge has a fixed perimeter. It is contemplated that thetank wall 10 will be made as cylindrical as possible and as free aspossible from obstructions or bumps on the inside the plates of the tankshould be butt-welded and not overlapped. Even though the circumferenceof the tank wall 10 is substantially 5 uniform throughout its height,there may be considerable variations out of round. The diameter of theflat deck portion 12 of the floating roof is somewhat smaller than thediameter of the tank. The rim 13 is flared outwardly and 0 high enoughand thin enough so as to be distortable. Consequently, as the roof risesand falls,` the upper edge of the rim which contacts with the tank wallmay be distorted out of round to conform to the yshape of the tank wall5 at various heights.

the rim 13 and the tank wall 10 is indicated by 14.

The modified form shown in Fig. 3 is substantially the same, with thefollowing exceptions. o Numeral 110 indicates the tank wall and 112 thefiat deck portion floating on the liquid. Numeral 113 indicates anupstanding outwardly flared peripheral rim. The upper edge of this rim,however, does not contact directly with the tank wall 110 but carries adepending circular band of metal 115 in the nature of a continuous shoesurrounding the tank wall. The upper edge of this band isl curvedinwardly, as indicated by 115, and the lower edge similarly curvedinwardly, as indicated nby 115. The shoe may be The line of contactbetween attached to the rim 113 in any suitable manner, as by welding.By providing the shoe, a'longer contact is provided with the tank wall110. The rim 113l and also the shoe 115 are made wide enough and thinenough so that they will be distortable to conform to variations out ofround of the tank wall 110.

Floating roofs of the character referred to are frequently used on oilstorage tanks for the prevention or lessening of evaporation losses.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, itis to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes,therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed intheappended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all noveltyinherent in my invention as broadly as permissible, in view of the priorart.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A cylindrical tank adapted to contain liquid and a circular roofadapted to float on liquid in the tank, said roof having a flat sheetportion with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the tank and aperipheral upstanding outwardly flared rim with its upper edge of fixedperimeter and in contact with the wall of the tank, said rim vbeingsufiiciently high and flexible to permit its upper edge to be distortedout of round.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the upper edge of the rimis curved inwardly.

3. A cylindrical tank adapted to contain liq- 95 uid and a circular roofadapted to float on liq uid in the tank, said roof having a at sheetportion with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the tank and aperipheral upstanding outwardly flared rim with its upper edge of 100fixed perimeter and a depending circular shoe carried by the upper edgeof the rim. said shoe being distortable and lying in contact with thewall of the tank.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which 105 the upper and loweredges of the shoe are curved inwardly.

5. A cylindrical tank adapted to contain liquid and a circular roofadapted to float on liquid in the tank, said roof having a flat sheet110 portion with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the tank and aperipheral upstanding outwardly flared rim with its upper edge of fixedperimeter and with a part carried by its upper edge in contact with thewall of the tank, said 115 rim being sufficiently high and flexible topermit its upper edge to be distorted out of round.

HARRY c. BOARDMAN.

